Flexible band



Jan. 1, 1946. A. BLUMSTEIN FLEXIBLE BAND Filed Aug. 12, 1944 3 Sheets-Sheet l I LLJQUQLBEW.

full-Ilium-" IIWENTOR.

ATTORNEY.

Jan. 1, 1946.

A. BLUMSTEIN 2,392,115

FLEXIBLE BAND Filed Aug. 12, 1944 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 M IN VEN TOR.

TTORN E Y.

Patented Jan. 1, 1946 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE- FLEXIBLE BAND Abraham Blumstein, Forest Hills, N. Y.

Application August 12, 1944, Serial No. 549,24l}

7. Claims.

ing or the like, are diflicu-lt to perform due to the character and reduced dimensions of the elements of the structure. Besides considerably in-- creasing the cost of manufacture of. the, article, this has the additional disadvantage of preventing easy replacement of elements of the structure in case of breakage due to wear or accidental causes.

A further serious shortcoming common to the structures of the prior art, is to be found in their lack of strength and rigidity against forces tending to twist the band, which increases the danger of accidental breakage and is, in any event, a cause of rapid wear and shortened life of the article.

Another objectionable feature of such bands consists in that the pivotal joints and the small springs required by the type of construction used are exposed, particularly in the extended condition of the article, to the deleterious action of dust and moisture. These and other disadvantages are eliminated by the novel construction of flexible band to which the invention is directed.

It is an object of the invention to provide a novel band of the character described, which is strong and durable and can be readily assembled and disassembled into its component parts, whereby the manufacture of the product is considerably simplified and the replacement of any part of the structure is readily effected whenever required.

Another object of the invention is to provide a metal band as aforementioned, which, while be-- ing composed of units interconnected to form a flexible and longitudinally expansible struc ture, is so constructed as to positively prevent any objectionable displacement of the units thereof, or of the elements of which the units are formed, relative to each other, whereby any undesirable twisting of the structure is eliminated during use of the object.

It is a further and important object of the invention to provide a band which comprises; a p urality of; identical: uni-ts. consistin f: a numher 01'.- elements adapted to be assembled together without. any weldi p at n. or he e, an maintained in assembled relationship through the, frictional interengagement of certain of the elements. I

The invention also contemplates the eliminaition of coil springs or the like and provision of spring means of a novel and i-mprb-ved type as sociated with the units of the band and effective to maintain the same in juxtaposed relation to each other, and also to prevent objectionable displacement of the links interconnecting the units both in the normal and in the extended condition of the band.

Still another object is to. provide band units comprising flattened hollow members, which conseal the aforementioned spring means and protect the same in the normal as well as in the extended condition of the band.

These and other. Objects will becom apparent in the following description of the invention illustrated in the drawings, wherein:

Fig. l is a side elevational view of a flexible band according to the. invention.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the same band.

Fig. 3 is a side elevational view of the structure of Fig, 1 shown in extended condition, with the units of the band spaced from each other.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged perspective View of one of the two heads provided for each unit of the structure.

Fig, 5 is a similar enlarged perspective view of one of the flattened hollow elements of the unit.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged sectional view, on line 6-5 of Fig. 7.

Fig. '7 is an enlarged side elevational view of adjacent units of the flexible band, with parts of the structure removed and parts shown in section to illustrate the construction of the units and the manner in which they are interconnected. f

Fig. 8 is a further enlarged side elevational view of adjacent units, also with parts of the structure removed and parts in section, illustrating the position of the elements of the structure in the extended condition of the band.

Fig. 9 is a horizontal sectional view, on line 39 of Fig. 7, in the direction of the arrows,

Fig. 10 is a similar horizontal sectional view on line Ill-H] of Fig. 8. 1

Fig. 11 is a side elevational view, partly in section, illustrating the construction of end units of the band and means for interlocking the same.

' ornamental bracelet.

Referring now in detail to the drawings, it will be observed that the band comprises a number of metal units ID, that are all of identical construction, interconnected, in the manner to be later described, to form a flexible expansible structure and normally maintained in juxtaposed relation to each other, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

In the embodiment illustrated, the band is formed in two sections carrying terminal tubular members i2 connectible to a watch or the like to be incorporated into the band, it being of course, understood that the band may consist of a single section of suitable length for use as an the opposed end units l5 of the band sections, and these units differ in construction from the units H), as will hereafter become apparent.

The units l0 and the manner of their interconnection will now be described, and reference will be had particularly to Fig. 7 showing a portion of the band comprising four of said units juxtaposed end to end, which, for the sake of clarity, have been designated as Illa, lllb, Iilc and llld.

Each of the units comprises a pair of elongated end members or heads l8, I9 (one of which is shown isolated in Fig. 4) provided with pairs of spaced dependent pins 20 and 2|, respectively, which project inwardly from the heads. Said pins are frictionally entered into the opposite end portions of a pair of tubular members or pillars 23, 24, which maintain the heads in assembled relation and in fixed spaced parallel relation to each other, the elements described forming what can be termed a frame for the unit.

A flattened ellipsoidal hollow member 25, the outer contour thereof is identical to the contour of the heads l8, I9, is mounted on the pillars 23, 24 and abuts against the inner face of the upper head I8, while a second flattened ellipsoidal member 26, identical to the member 25, is likewise mounted on the pillars and abuts against the inner face of the lower head I9. As illustrated in the drawings, said members 25, 26 extend for two thirds of the distance between the heads I 8, i9 and are maintained in abutment with the respective heads by a third hollow member 28 ofidentical structure, hereafter called a link by reason of its function, which is movably mounted between the members 25, 26 and is associated with the unit in the manner to be described.

A substantially W-shaped flat compression spring 30, mounted in the unit between the pillars 23. 24, extends through the link 28 and into the members 25, 26, to points in the neighborhood of the heads of the unit, in close spaced relation to the opposite walls of said members and link (see Fig. 6). As will be manifest, while the spring 30 may be readily compressed and caused to assume the position shown in Fig. 8, its structure and its arrangement within the units are such as to prevent any twisting thereof.

The link 28 disposed between the members 25, 26 is offset relative to these latter to clear the lar 24 of its unit, and extends beyond the pillar 23 thereof to inclose the pillar 24 of a contiguous unit, thereby hingedly interconnecting said units. The arrangement is clearly illustrated in Fig. '7 wherein the link 28 of the unit I0!) is shown to inclose the pillar 23 of this latter and the pillar 24 of the contiguous unit Illa, and, likewise, the unit we is hingedly connected to the unit Illb by its link 28.

The links are normally urged to an innermost A fastener I 4 interlocks position relative to the respective units and into juxtaposition to each other by the respective springs 30, which extend through the links and are slightly compressed between the inner surfaces of these latter and the pillars 23, as shown in Fig. 7, and since the length of the links is equal to that of the units, these latter also will be normally maintained in juxtaposed relation to each other, that is, the band will be normally in the contracted condition illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2. Obviously, expansion of the band is allowed by the springs 38, which can be compressed in the manner shown in Fig. 8, thereby permitting displacement of the links 28', and therefore, of the units, relative to each other, and during such displacement the links are maintained in the plane of the members 25, 26 by :the'springs, as illustrated in Fig. 6, so that linear expansion of the band is insured. For this reason, and by virtue of the considerable rigidity conferred to the units by the construction described, any objectionable twisting of the band is prevented both in the normal and in the expanded condition of this latter.

The assembly of the units ill may be readily accomplished by initially forcing the pins of the heads l9 into one end of the pillars 23', 24 then successively assembling with said heads and pillars the hollowmembers 26, the springs 30, the links 28 and the hollow members 25, and finally forcing the pins of the heads l8 into the other end of the pillars to complete the structure. While the frictional interengagement of the pins and pillars is sufficient to insure that the elements are maintained in assembled condition, it is obvious that the heads can be readily removed and the structure disassembled whenever desired, so that the replacement of any one of the elements may be easily and expeditiously effected.

Fig. 11 illustrates the construction of the end units l5 of the band adapted to be interlocked by the fastener I. These units comprise a pair of elongated heads 32, 33, which are generally similar to the heads l8, IQ of the units H), but are provided each with an additional dependent pin 34 intermediate pairs of pins 36, 31 corresponding to the pairs 20, 2| of the heads It, IS. The pins 34 are frictionally entered into the opposite end portions of a pillar S8. The link 23. described in connection with the units H]. is eliminated and the fastener I 4, which may be of any suitable conventional type, is secured to the pillar 38 of one of the units l5 and extends to embrace the pillar 38 of the opposed unit i5.

While I have described my invention substantially with reference to a preferred embodiment thereof, it is to be understood that Changes and modifications may be made in the structure described and illustrated in the drawings without departing from the spirit of the invention or exceeding the scope of the claims.

I claim:

' 1. A flexible expansible band comprising a series of juxtaposed units, each of said units embodying a pair of spaced heads each provided with a pair of projecting pins, a pair of pillars mounted on said pins to interconnect said heads, a pair of hollow members freely mounted on said pillars and abutting against the opposed inner faces of the heads, a link disposed between 5211'! hollow members'and offset relative thereto to inclose one of the pillars of its unit and the adjacent pillar of a contiguous unit,-to hingeddisplacement of the link relative to its unit, the link being longitudinally movable relative to its unit in opposition to said spring conjointly with the contiguous unit aforesaid to permit expansion of the band.

2. A flexible expansible band comprising a series of juxtaposed units, each of said units embodying a pair of heads each provided with a pair of projecting pins, a pair of pillars frictionally mounted on said pins to interconnect said heads, a pair of hollow members freely mounted on said pillars and abutting against the opposed inner faces of the heads, said hollow members having an outer contour identical to the contour of the heads, a link movably mounted between said hollow members and offset relative thereto to inclose one of the pillars of the unit and the adjacent pillar of a contiguous unit, and resilient means within the unit associated with said link for normally preventing displacement of the link relative to the unit.

3. A flexible expansible band comprising a series of juxtaposed units, each of said units embodying a pair of spaced heads each provided with a pair of integral projecting pins, a pair of pillars detachably mounted on said pins to separably interconnect said heads, a pair of hollow members freely mounted on said pillars and abutting against the opposed inner surfaces of the heads, a link mounted between said hollow members and offset relative thereto to inclose one of the pillars of the unit and the adjacent pillar of a contiguous unit, and resilient means V within the unit associated with said link for normally preventing displacement of the link rela tive to the unit.

4. A flexible expansible band comprising a series of units arranged in juxtaposition to each other, each of said units embodying a pair of spaced heads each provided with a pair of projecting pins, a pair of pillars extending from one to the other head and detachably receiving said pins to separably interconnect said heads, a pair of hollow members freely mounted on said pillars and abutting against the opposed inner faces of the heads, a link mounted between said hollow members and offset relative thereto to inclose one of the pillars of the unit and the adjacent pillar of a contiguous unit, and a compression spring within the unit extending through the link for normally preventing displacement of the link relative to the unit.

5. A flexible expansible band comprising a series of juxtaposed units, each of said units embodying a pair of spaced heads each provided with a pair of projecting pins, a pair of pillars extending between said heads and detachably receiving said pins to separably interconnect the heads, a pair of hollow members freely mounted on said pillars adjacent the heads, a link disposed between said hollow members and offset relative thereto, said link inclosing one of the pillars of its unit and the adjacent pillar of a contiguous unit, thereby forming a hinge connection for said two units, and a substantially W-shaped compression spring extending through the link and into said hollow members for normally preventing displacement'of the link relative to its unit, the link being movable relative to its unit conjointly with the contiguous unitaforesaid in opposition to said spring to expand the band.

6. A flexible expansible band comprising a series of juxtaposed units, each of said units embodying a pair of spaced heads provided with projecting pins, a pair of pillars frictionally mounted on said pins to separably interconnect the heads, a pair of hollow members freely mounted on said pillars and abutting against the opposed inner faces of the heads, a link movable between said hollow members and offset relative thereto to inclose one of the pillars of the unit and the adjacent pillar of a contiguous unit, and a flat compression spring mounted within the unit between the pillar thereof inclosed by the link and the inner surface of this latter for normally pre venting displacement of the link relative to the unit.

7. A flexible expansible band comprising a series of juxtaposed units, each of said units embodying a pair 'of spaced heads provided with projecting pins, a pair of pillars detachably mounted on said pins to separably interconnect said heads, a pair of hollow members mounted on said pillars and abutting against the opposed inner faces of the heads, said hollow members having an outer contour identical to the contour of the heads, a link movablymounted between said hollow members and offset relative thereto to inclose one of the pillars of the unit and the adjacent pillar of a contiguous unit thereby forming a hinge connection for said two units, and a substantially W-shaped compression spring extending within the unit through the link and into said hollow members, said spring bearing against the pillar of the unit inclosed by the link and the inner surface of this latter for normally preventing displacement of the link relative to the unit.

ABRAHAM BLUMSTEIN. 

